Globalstar said revenue from its SPOT consumer products and services increased by 47% in 2010. Revenues generated by Globalstar's SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger and related consumer products and services were $23.7 million compared with $16.1 million for 2009.
Globalstar has received orders to ship approximately 280,000 SPOT devices to over 10,000 dealers since their introduction in November 2007. The company said it ended the year with a total of 439,253 mobile satellite voice and data subscribers due primarily to growth of SPOT consumer products.
Outdoor and paddlesports shops have been selling SPOT devices as an affordable alternative to personal locator beacons, satellite phones and cell-based GPS trackers. The devices allow adventurers to send their location, status, messages or calls for help via satellite from virtually anywhere in North America, Europe or Australia. REI has offered SPOT devices for free with the purchase of some kayaks.
